Sucker rod and plunger rotor



Patented Dec. 20, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SUMNER B. SARGENT, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO SARGENT ENGI- NEERING CORPORATION, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALI- FORNIA.

Application filed July 19, 1921.

This invention relates to pumping equipment for oil wells and relates particularly to means for eliminating difficulties arising from sucker rods becoming disconnected,

and means for preserving an equal distribution of wear upon the reciprocating parts of the equipment. y

In the present system of pumping oil from wells, considerable delay and expense are caused by the sucker rods, which actuate the pump plunger, becoming disconnected; this generally occurring at some midway point within the well and necessitating fishing for the loose end ot' the sucker rod and drawing same to the surface in order that connection may again be properly made. Also, in the replacing of worn plungers with oversize plungers when the action of the pump has become ineticient owing to poor seal between 2o the plunger and the pump barrel, it is often diicult to properly it a renewal plunger into the pump barrel due to the unequal wear upon the wall thereof which causes an elongated cross section of the pump chamber to result allowing the passage of oil around the plunger.

It is the principal object of m invention to eliminate these undesirable eatures by the provision of an apparatus which will partially revolve the sucker rods at each strokethereof, thereby producing a tightening action upon the joints of the sucker rods and also causing an equal distribution of wear between the pump barrel and the plunger which reciprocates therein, owing to the rotative movement imparted to the plunger through the sucker rods.

Other objects and advantages will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawing which is for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of a pumping rig in which is shown in operation an apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on a plane represented by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially upon a plane represented by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view as indicated by the arrow 4 of Fig. 2.

Serial No. 485,999.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the ratchet wheel I employ, illustrating the frictional drive between the ratchet wheel and the hub which is mounted rigidly upon the polished rod.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing I show a polished rod 11 which is vertically reciproeated by a swiveled stirrup 12 carried by the walking beam 13, and which polished rod reciprocates a plunger 14 within a pump barrel 15 6o through a line ot' sucker rods 16.

The polished rod 11 extends centrally through a swivel head 2O maintained between the lower ends of the legs of the stirrup 12, and the rod 11 has mounted there- 65 upon a hub 21 which supports a ratchet wheel 22. In an annular groove 23 upon the hub 2l there operates a halved ring 24 formed integrally with an arm 25 which supports a pawl 30 adapted to engage teeth 31 of the 7o ratchet wheel 22. A bell crank 33 is mounted upon one ot' the arms 34 of the swivel head 20, one of the lever arms 35 thereof being provided with an elongated slot 36 to loosely engage the projecting end 75 37 of the pawl arm 25.

The arm 40 of the bell crank 33 is operated through a link 41 which is pivotally connected at 42 to the walking beam 13. This construction provides a parallel link ar- S0 rangement which will cause the lever 40 to assume substantially the same relative position as the Walking beam to which it is connected, thereby furnishing, incidentally to variations in the inclination of the walking 85 beam 13, the desired reciprocative movement of the lever 40.

When the walking beam is at its highest point, the arm 40 will have the position indicated by the dotted lines 50 of Fig. 1, and 90 as the downward stroke of the walking beam is taken, the lever 40 Will be carried upwardly as indicated by the arrow 52 of Fig.

3 into the position indicated by the dotted lines 53 of Fig. 1. The revolving movement 95 of the bell crank as indicated by the arrow 52 will cause the arm 35 to be advanced in the direction of the arrow 55 of Fig. 2 and the pawl 30 engaging the teeth 31 of the ratchet wheel 22 will partially rotate the 100 ratchet wheel in the right hand direction as indicated by the arrow 60 in Fig. 2.

It is preferable that the rotation of the shaft be accomplished upon the downward stroke as I have illustrated, because at that time the stress in the sucker rods is at its lowest point and the tightening of the joints may then be best accomplished. I t is also necessary that the direction ot rotation be 1n the same direction as the direction of advance of the screw threads of the sucker rod couplings. When in use with sucker rods rovided with locking couplings, my device Ilias merely the purpose of equalizing the wear upon the walls of the pump barrel and the wear upon the couplings which are brought into contact with the casing due to bends or kinks therein, and may be adapted to periodically reverse the direction of rotation. v

I rovide a frictional engagement between wheel 22 and the hub 21 for the purpose of transmitting the rotation ot the wheel 22 to the polished rod 11. In this lmanner binding of the plunger within the pump barrel sufficiently to prevent the rotation of the sucker rods is accommodated in the actuating device and no harmful results follow. The hub 21 is provided `with a cirl cular flange received in a suitably ormed recess inthe body of the ratchet wheel 22. A ring plate 66 is secured in place on the underside of the wheel 22 by screws 67 and the plate 66 encloses a fiber disc 68 holding rmly against the flange 65. lVhen an excess of resistance against the turning of the line of sucker rods is encountered the ratchet wheel may revolve independently ot' the hub 23.

My invention may advantageously be used to revolve the sucker rod shaft in the direction which will preserve a tightening tendency in the different screwed joints, and to suitably rotate the pump plunger within the pump barrel as the plunger is reciprocated, thereby causing an equal wear upon the surface of the pump barrel Iin order that the maximum over-size of renewal plunger may be installed when required, thus increasing the efficiency and length of operating periods of the equipment,'and equalizing wear and strain in couplings and rods and lessening the liabilities of sanding up of the plunger in the pump barrel.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device for rotating a line of sucker rods, the combination of: av polished rod; means, including a walking beam, which varies in its inclination for reciprocating said polished rod; a member frictionally mounted upon said polished rod; and means including a link member substantially parallel with said polish rod and depending from said walkin beam and consequent in actuation upon t e reciprocation of said ratchet polished rodcfor rotating said member and vthus causing the rotation of said polished rod.

2. In a device for rotating a line of sucker rods, the combination of: a polished rod; means, including a walking beam, 'which varies in its inclination for reciprocating said polished rod; a wheel member frictionally mounted upon said polished rod; and means including a link member substantially parallel with said polish rod and consequent in actuation upon the reciprocation of said polished rod for rotating said wheel member, and thus causing the rotation of said polished rod.

3. In a device for rotating a line of sucker rods, the combination of: a polished rod; means, including a walking beam, which varies in its inclination for reciprocating said polished rod; a ratchet wheel friction# ally mounted upon said polished rod; and means including a link member substantially parallel with said polish rod and depending from said walking beam consequent in actuation upon the reciprocation of said polished rod for rotating said ratchet wheel and thus causing the rotation of said polished rod.

4f. In a device for rotating a line of sucker rods, the combination of: a polished rod'; means including a walking beam, lwhich varies in its inclination for reciprocating said polished rod; a ratchet Wheel frictionally mounted upon said polished rod; and pawl means including a link member substantially parallel with said polish rod and depending from said walking beam and consequent in actuation upon the reciprocation of said polished rod for rotating said ratch-l et wheel and thus causing the rotation of .said polished rod.

5. In a device for rotating a line of sucker rods, the combination of: a polished rod; means, including a walking beam, which varies in its inclination for .reciprocating said polished rod; a ratchet wheel mounted upon said polished rod; a bell crank operatively connected with a paWl adapted to engage said ratchet wheel; and a link, dependent from said walking beam andy connected to said'bell crank Jfor reciprocating said bell crank. i

6. In a device for rotating a line of sucker rods, the combination of: a polished rod; means, including a walking beam, which varies in its inclination for reciprocating said polished rod; a ratchet wheel frictionally mounted upon said polished rod; a bell crank operatively connected with a pawl adapted to engage said ratchet wheel; and a link, dependentl from said walking beam and connected to said bell kcrank for reciprocating said bell crank.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination ot: a polished rod; a walking beam varying in its inclination; a stirrup connecting said polished rod with said walking beam; a ratchet wheel mounted upon said polished rod; lever means supported by said stirrup, and operatively connected with a pawl adapted to engage said ratchet wheel; and a link connected to said lever means and said walking beam for reciproeating` said lever means, incidentally to the variations in the inclination of said walking beam, when said polished rod is reciprocated by said walking beam.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a polished rod; a walking beam varying in its inclination; a stirrup connecting said polished rod with said walking beam; a ratchet wheel mounted upon said polished rod; a bell crank supported by said stirrup, and operatively connected with a pawl adapted to engage said ratchet wheel; and a link connected to said vbell crank and an actuating member for reciprocating said lever, incidentally to the variations in the inclination ot said walking beam, when said polished rod is reciprocated by said walking beam.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a polished rod; a Walking beam varying in 'its inclination; a stirrup connecting said polished rod with said walking beam; a ratchet Wheel mounted upon said polished rod; lever means supported by said stirrup, and operatively connected with a pawl adapted to engage said ratchet wheel; and a link connecting between said walking beam and said lever means for reciprocating same when said polished rod is reciprocated by said walking beam.

10. In a device ot' the class described, the combination of: a polished rod; a walking beam varying in its inclination; a stirrup connecting said polished rod with said walking beam; a ratchet wheel mounted upon said polished rod; a bell crank supported by said stirrup, and operatively connected with a pawl adapted to engage said ratchet wheel; and a link connecting between said walking beam and said bell crank for reciprocating same, incidentally .to the variations in the inclination of said ywalking beam, when said polished rod is reciprocated by said walking beam.'

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a polished rod; a walking beam varying in its inclination; a stirrup connecting sald polished rod with said walking beam; a ratchet wheel frictionally mounted upon said polished rod; lever means supported by said stirrup, and operatively connected with a pawl adapted to engage said ratchet wheel; and a link connected between said lever means and an actuating member for reciprocating same when said polished rod is reciprocated by said Walking beam.

12. In a device of the class described, the

combination of: a polished rod; a walking beam varying in its inclination; a stirru connecting saidv polished rod with said walking beam; a ratchet wheel frictionally mounted upon said polished rod; a bell crank supported by said stirrup, and operatively connected with a pawl adapted to engage said ratchet wheel; and a link connected between said bell crank and an actuating member for reciprocating same when said polished rod is reciprocated by said walking beam.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a polished rod; a walking beam varying in its inclination; a stirrup connecting said polished rod with said walking beam; a ratchetv wheel frictionally mounted upon said polished rod; lever means supported by said stirrup, and operatively connected with a pawl adapted to engage said ratchet Wheel; and a link connecting between said walking beam and said lever means for reciprocating same, incidently to the variations in the inclination of said walking beam, when said polished rod is reciprocated by said walking beam.

14. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a polished rod; a walking beam varying in its inclination; a. stirrup connecting said polished rod with said walking beam; a ratchet wheel frictionally mounted upon said polished rod; a bell crank supported by said stirrup, and operatively connected with a pawl adapted to engage said ratchet wheel; and a link connecting between said walking beam and said `bell crank for reciprocating same, in-

cidentally to the variations in the inclination of said walking beam, when said polished rod is reciprocated by said walking beam.

15. In a device for rotating a line of sucker rods, the combination of: a polished rod; means for reciprocating said polished rod; a member mounted upon said polished rod; means consequent in actuation upon the reciprocation of said polished rod for rotating said member and thus causing the rotation of said polished rod; and relieving means between said reciprocating means and said polished rod whereby said polished rod may reciprocate independently of rotation when excessive resistance against rotation is exerted through said polished rod.

16, In a device of the class described, the combination of: a polished rod; a walking beam; a stirrup connecting said polished rod with said walking beam; a ratchet wheel mounted upon said polished rod; lever means supported by said stirrup, and operatively connected with a pawl adapted to engage said ratchetwheel; a linkl connected to said lever means for reciprocating same when said polished rod is reciprocated by said walking beam, and relieving means between said walking beam and said poling beam; a ratchet wheel y ished rod whereby said polished rod 'may reciprocate independently of rotation when excessive resistance against rotation is exerted through said polished rod.

17. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a polished rod; a walking beam varying in-it-s inclination; a stirrup connecting said polished rod with said Walk friotionally mounted on said polished rod; and a pawl lo i means to actuate said ratchet wheel, incidentally to the variations in the inclination of said Walking beam, and thereby cause the rotation of said polished rod.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 15 set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 11th day of July, 1921.

SUMNER B. SARGENT. 

